We are ambassadors for Christ. – 2 Corinthians 5:20
There are 188 ambassadors sent to various parts of the world and to international organizations to represent the United States. They are nominated by the president for their skills of leadership, negotiation, and management and confirmed by the Senate. The qualities that are sought in an ambassador are reliability, optimism, friendliness, and the ability to converse and improvise. These individuals play key roles in diplomatic relations and foreign policy strategies.
Today’s verse states, “We are ambassadors for Christ.” Do you remember going on school field trips and hearing the teacher warn the class that if you misbehaved, the whole school would get a bad name? Likewise, Christians need to behave as representatives of Christ, with their own interests and desires being secondary. Just as ambassadors must speak on behalf of the government, aligning with administration policies, so should your words be in agreement with Christ. As Jesus extended His hand toward people with great needs, so should His church do the same. The apostle Paul’s main concern was for individuals to be reconciled to God. This also needs to be the believer’s passion. “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
In your prayer time today, ask God to give you wisdom so that your thoughts, deeds, and words line up with His will. Pray for His love to flow through you to others. Intercede for unbelievers in the government and the citizenry of the United States that they may receive the Gospel and be reconciled to Christ.
Today’s Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:20
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Matthew 5:13-16, John 13:31-35
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
